3046. 'And swore to him concerning this matter' means a very solemn undertaking. This is clear from the meaning of 'swearing' as a bond, and indeed a most sacred bond since he swore by 'Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of the earth', as dealt with in 3023. It is accordingly a very solemn undertaking, for a very solemn undertaking is nothing else than a bond.

The Lord in essence is perfect love expressed as perfect wisdom. He created us so that He could love us, give us love and wisdom of our own, and thus be united with us. This is the ultimate blessing, for us to receive His love and wisdom and to be together with Him, and all other forms and meanings of "blessing" flow from it. This flow, however, takes many different forms in the Bible. When people receive the Lord's blessing, it illustrates how His love and wisdom flow into us in forms that fit the spiritual state people represent in the Word. When people bless the Lord, it indicates an acknowledgment that life and all its gifts come from Him and shows a desire to accept them and be conjoined. When people bless each other, it represents the desire to share good desires and true ideas as much as possible.